Spalding Town Cricket Club’s under-15 side beat Bourne under-15s by 55 runs at the Abbey Lawn on Thursday night to gain a spot in the semi-finals of the county cup.
Town lost the toss and were asked to bat first on a sunny evening in South Lincolnshire.
Paddy Harrington (54 retired) led the way with a careful innings in his 100th game for the club, punctuated with bursts of muscular hitting.
Opening partner Jordy Butcher (10) was dismissed by a fine diving catch by keeper Goode after top edging.
Skipper Josh Lawrence (12) was well taken on the mid-wicket boundary, but the in-form Harry DeCamps (29) and Jon Manton (15) kept the score moving as Town finished on 138-5.
The hosts lost early wickets in their reply as Anand Ravaghan (1) was smartly stumped by Butcher standing up to seamer Stef Gostic and Jack Friend (6) was caught at slip by the diving Manton off the same bowler.
Bourne recovered as Alex Cunningham (25) and skipper Amelia Gardner (25 not out) took the score to 51 in the 14th over before spinner Tom Wide (3-11) took a smart return catch to remove the former, and then dismissed Seb Mitchell for duck thanks to another Butcher catch.
Further disaster followed for the home side as new man Matt Hedley (0) was run out and Tom Ellison (0) was caught by Harrington, also off Wide.
Ethan Brown then hit the stumps to take the wicket of Oliver Goode and Bourne finished 55 runs adrift at 83-7.
Town’s under-15 side will now travel to Woodhall Spa for the semi finals of the competition.
